Team:Saarland

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The iGEM- Team Saarland embraces human- and molecular biology and biophysics. We are 10 bachelor-/master students trained in handling biotechnological questions such as the planned identification, purification, biological characterization and technological production of bacteria-born substances. Our aim is to employ a simple soil bacterium as medium for the first ever production of a special hyaluronic acid that was recently identified in the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber). Fibroblasts of the naked mole rat were found to secrete a high- molecular- mass hyaluronic acid that is 5 times larger than the human or mouse hyaluronic acid. This phenomenon is supposed to cause the cancer resistance in the species of Heterocephalus glaber. Within the project run- time the special hyaluronic acid will be produced, purified and tested in its inhibitory effects on carcinogenesis in selected human cancer cell lines. These biological tests will be run on physiological and molecular level in cell culture.
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Cancer is not only one of the most common diagnoses, but also the leading cause of death worldwide. There are only limited therapeutic possibilities and these are mostly associated with adverse effects. A special form of hyaluronic acid has the potential to become an innovative therapeutic drug for the treatment of cancer. Originally discovered in connective tissues of Heterocephalus glaber this high-molecular-mass hyaluronic acid (HMM-HA) is supposed to mediate the cancer resistance in this species. Our aim is to employ a simple soil bacterium as an expression system for the first ever biotechnological production of this HMM-HA. After purification we want to test and further characterise its inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis in selected human cancer cell lines. We are confident that the anti carcinogenic properties and high biocompatibility of our synthesized HMM-HA will herald a new age of fighting cancer.
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Project Rufus or the Force of the Naked Mole Rat



Cancer is not only one of the most common diagnoses, but also the leading cause of death worldwide. There are only limited therapeutic possibilities and these are mostly associated with adverse effects. A special form of hyaluronic acid has the potential to become an innovative therapeutic drug for the treatment of cancer. Originally discovered in connective tissues of Heterocephalus glaber this high-molecular-mass hyaluronic acid (HMM-HA) is supposed to mediate the cancer resistance in this species. Our aim is to employ a simple soil bacterium as an expression system for the first ever biotechnological production of this HMM-HA. After purification we want to test and further characterise its inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis in selected human cancer cell lines. We are confident that the anti carcinogenic properties and high biocompatibility of our synthesized HMM-HA will herald a new age of fighting cancer.